When Head Pain Is an Emergency

How to know when a sudden, severe headache should prompt you to call 911 or go to the ER

By Lisa L. Gill
Investigative Reporter

January 4, 2024

person on couch with eyes closed, holding a pair of glasses in one hand with their other hand on their temple

The searing pain of a sudden headache or the weird visuals like bright zigzag lines or shapes that can accompany migraines may make you think: Is this a stroke? A brain tumor? Thankfully, even severe headaches are usually not emergencies. But sometimes a headache can be a sign of something more serious, says Mia Minen, MD, a headache expert at NYU Langone Health in New York City.

Here’s how to know when a severe, sudden headache should prompt you to call 911 or have someone take you to the ER.

You are pregnant or have a serious, preexisting medical condition. In pregnancy, a severe headache can indicate dangerously high blood pressure. And severe headaches in people with cancer, COVID-19, or HIV/AIDS can indicate a worsening of the condition.

You recently experienced a hard bang on the head. Head trauma followed by headache plus nausea or vomiting could signal a concussion or bleeding in the brain. (Read more about what to do if you hit your head hard.)

Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the February 2024 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Lisa L. Gill

Lisa L. Gill is an award-winning investigative reporter. She has been at Consumer Reports since 2008, covering health and food safety—heavy metals in the food supply and foodborne illness—plus healthcare and prescription drug costs, medical debt, and credit scores. Lisa also testified before Congress and the Food and Drug Administration about her work on drug costs and drug safety. She lives in a DIY tiny home, where she gardens during the day and stargazes the Milky Way at night.